Western Lakes Fire District’s Fire Board or Commission

Western Lakes Fire Board Monthly Board Meeting August 13 2024 Call to Order • George Morris called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. Board members present were George Morris, Kent Lorenz, Bill Riemenschneider, Dan DeBehnke, and Scott Carter. Jeff Roemer and Mike Tompkins were excused. Proof of Notice • Chief Bowen announced that the notice was posted Friday, August 9, 2024, at l 1:14 p.m. in accordance with open meeting laws. Pledge of Allegiance • George Morris led the Pledge of Allegiance. Discussion - Impact Fee Study • Chief Bowen discussed with the Fire Board an item that has been included in the 2025 Operating Budget. Several years ago some of the municipalities asked about the District completing an Impact Fee Study to consider the impacts of the growth and development on the District's Stations and assist in funding the construction of future Fire Station(s). Now that the Community Risk Assessment is completed and the Standards of Cover will be completed by year end the time to consider an Impact Fee Study has come. With regard to Fire/EMS Services the only eligible item that impact fees can fund are stations. As the communities grow over the next 7 years there may be a need for an additional fire station. The fees are collected by the municipalities when building permits are issued if on impact fee is in place. Until a study is completed, this is an unknown of what is needed and how much could be collected to help offset the costs of new construction to current tax payers. No action is needed at this time, however if approved in the budget an RFP will be issued this fall to begin the process of completing the study. Once completed the municipalities will decide if they will implement impact fees. • The Fire Board appreciated the discussion and information on this process. This is a proactive approach to consider the impacts of new development on the current system and would assist the current tax payers with these costs as the new development is the cause of additional needs and would be paying these fees if approved. Discussion - 2025 Operating Budget • Chief Bowen distributed the draft 2025 operating budget. Since the initial presentation staff has worked diligently to obtain final numbers for the budget. The proposed budget includes a 4% inflationary increase on the municipal contribution in addition to the 3rd phase of the staffmg plan. Of the proposed budget increase labor costs account for nearly the full amount. With the exception of $30,000 for the impact fee study and $12,438 of other operational increases the remainder is all labor costs. Chief Bowen walked the Fire Board through the various revenues the District receives to cover the District's expenses. Many of the revenue sources are fixed much like the municipal levy contributions leaving very little room for changes to the budget. EMS reimbursements from health insurance continue to decrease due to the aging population within the District and high medicare coverage. Due to mandatory writedowns of medicare the District only receives about 30% of the cost of providing the service. Expenditures have been heavily evaluated with the Chief going through a line item review of each category. The proposed budget includes the addition of 6 new full-time firefighter/paramedics and 3 new Lieutenants which are the 3rd and final phase of the staffing and funding plan presented in 2022 with implementation starting in 2023. These new positions will bring the five fire stations to full staffing of a five person crew allowing an initial Page 1 of 2 PS